The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-05-12

the petted and spoiled child Of parents in
comfortable circumstances. INDUCED in
my every desire. fiattered and obeyed, with
out any knowledge Of sorrow or suffering, I
grew up heartless and giddy woman. I'm
afraid from being merely callous to othsrs'
feelings grew to take pleasure in their
pain. At any rate l know / married my
husband less from any fancy for him than
from a wish to spite other girls, who saw
were angling for him.
"He was doctor Of very polished man
ners and considerable energy, who was
rapidly winning his way into the first rank
Of his profession. But il were spiteful,
he was absolutely cruel He took a posi-
tive pleasure in infiicting pain. Wherever
there was suffering to be witnessed he was
delighted to be present. l well remember
how, though he was physician, aud not
surgeon, ne used to be an noyed if any
very frightful operation was performed
without his seeing it. He pretended he
only wished to see it for information's sake.
knew better.
I'VE mad one daughter born-a pretty,
fair-haired, blue-eyed creature, just like
your child. While she was baby my hus-
band paid no attention to her, but as soon
as she grew old enough and began to be
able to run about and talk little. she, un-
fortunately for herself, was not long in at
tracing his notice. He watched her about
the room and continually found fault with
her. AS sure as he found fault with her
he beat her. At first this cruelty revolted
me, but, God pardon me, gradually grew
to take pleasure in it. l could listen to
the poor girls screams without shudder;
nay, sometimes almost with delight.
''One day the poor little thing committed
some fault which an ordinary mother
would have thought fully punished by
mild correction; but took her to my hus-
band and asked him to punish'her. With
smile he went for his walking-cane. With
it he fiogged and refogged the child till
she was black and blue. He ceased, to
rest himself, and then began again. The
child's screams were dreadful The serv-
ants at last could bear it no longer
Headed by the coachmaa, they came into
the room and demanded that the punish
ment should cease. My husband ordered
them out The coachman refused to CO.
and when my husband, overcome with
rage, struck him with the cane, the man
knocked him down, and, lifting the child in
his arms, walked out of the house before
we could stop him, and took her straight to
IHo pOllC6 SJdIlOn.
''The police surgeon reported that the
child would probably die. Wewere arrested
and detained in the prison for a time, but
when it was found that the child was recov-
ering we were liberated and merely fined
thanks to the position my husband had one
time occupied and TO the fact of our not be-
ing taken before an impartial judge. But
my husbands practicewa naturally ruined,
SO he resolved to go abroad. Happily for
the child, he determined to abandon her.
She, heard, was adopted by my brother.
''My husband and l went abroad. He
failed to prosper wherever we went. The
brutality he once expended on our child he
now turned upon me. You see these scars!
They are evidence of his tr eatment. At last
he died in jail, where he had been sent for
a brutal attack upon a poor woman who
to offend him in public house,
and was left penniless in strange land.
''Do you think l deserve your kindness
nowm
''You have never done me wrong" replied
Gertrude, at the same time trembling vio-
lently and looking as deathly pale as the
dying woman.
''Never done you wrong! ?" said the stran-
ger, excitedly.
''Not to my knowledge" m1ttered Ger
trude, as her ott-recurring dream came Wv
idly before her.
"God forgive mer' exclaimed the woman,
with low, dying moan. Gertrude, God
grant you may forgive me! You were that
child! am your mother rn'-L0nGOn Truth